The Orioles have acquired right-hander Jackson Kowar from the Twins in exchange for cash considerations, according to Roch Kubatko of MASN. The team placed fellow right-hander Colin Selby on the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation in a corresponding move. Both teams have announced the move.
Kowar was designated for assignment by the Twins on Thursday. Prior to that, he had only recently been claimed off waivers from the Mariners. Kowar spent most of 2025 shuttling back and forth from Triple-A, though he did make 15 appearances (17 innings) at the big-league level. He had a 4.24 ERA in that sample, along with a 21.1% strikeout rate and a 9.9% walk rate. Kowar’s expected stats were more pessimistic, with his 5.15 xERA and 5.84 FIP suggesting he benefited from good luck.
Since his debut in 2021, Kowar has thrown 91 innings over 54 appearances (eight starts) between the Royals and Mariners. Unfortunately, he owns an unsightly 8.21 ERA in that time, with his expected numbers putting him in the upper-5.00s. His 20.3% strikeout rate is serviceable, but the righty has struggled with control to the tune of a 13.1% career walk rate. He also struggles to keep the ball in the yard, having allowed 19 home runs throughout his career (1.88 HR/9). Injuries certainly haven’t helped his performance. In March 2024, he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament and underwent Tommy John surgery while with the Mariners. Though he returned in May 2025, he missed the last month and a half of the season with a right shoulder impingement.
Kowar makes for an interesting low-cost flier for the Orioles’ bullpen mix. Statcast graded his fastball velocity in the 90th percentile and valued the pitch at two runs above average in 2025. Unsurprisingly, Kowar leaned on the pitch 57.7% of the time. The key for him will be improving his location and avoiding hard contact, as hitters slugged .476 against the pitch in 2025. His mid-80s slider was his second most-used pitch could be a plus pitch going forward. While it had a -1 run value this year, Kowar struck out 39.1% of hitters on that pitch. He has less than three years of service time and is out of options, so the club would need to pass him through waivers if he doesn’t make the roster.
Recent reports indicated that Selby was dealing with shoulder inflammation. He’ll now open the season on the injured list and will stay there until at least late May. Selby was acquired from the Royals in a July 2024 cash trade. He has thrown 18 big-league innings for Baltimore since then, 14 of them coming in 2025. In that small sample, he impressed with a 3.21 ERA and a microscopic 3.3% walk rate (which was admittedly an outlier from his career numbers). Selby’s sinker, slider, and knuckle curve all graded slightly above average in terms of run value. He has less than a year of service time and is also out of options, so he’ll need to perform well upon his return or else risk being placed on outright waivers.
Photo courtesy of Dennis Lee, Imagn Images
They are the same guys basically. Hope Selby can get healthy
This dude loves Cheerios
Collecting Jackson’s.
Homeboy Shopping Network
“Mo’ Money mo’ money mo'”
There he is! The TOR starter the Orioles needed. /s
Twins using that cash to pay off the debt?
I wonder who much cash is considered for these transactions. 🤔
Selby has a munch better beard. Hopefully he can make it back to give the Orioles the facial hair boost they’ll need later in the season.
Kowar in fear!
8.21 ERA with expected in 5’s. That is one unlucky Jackson. Can’t hurt… let’s see what the pitching lab can do to help him out. Maybe they can start with a rabbits foot to help with the luck aspect.
We had hopes for his recovery and continued success here in Seattle. I hope for the best for him in Baltimore. Good luck Jackson.
I don’t think Selby can “return in mid-April.”
Pretty sure the 60 days starts on Opening Day.
Pretty sure it doesn’t.
@socalbball is correct.
teams can start to utilize the 60 day IL as soon as pitchers and catchers report. which was last Monday.
I believe there is a requirement that their 40 man be full but I believe it is with the O’s.
They can put people on the 60-day IL now, but they have to be out for 60 days of the regular season.
O’s never do enough with pitching.
He was a bust in KC and he will remain that way. Nevertheless he’s made more money than I ever will with infinitely less effort, so he’s a winner in my book.
Yeah, it takes little effort to be an elite athlete and no elite athlete has ever improved their shortcomings and become even better.
Glad we agree.
He’ll always have that great first big-league start to tell his grandkids about.
The Twins are rudderless. They are headed to last place. Why in the world did they hire Shelton other than he was cheap?
Seems like the O’s are depending once again on the classic TBR formula of movable 4A arms in the pen who can be serviceable for short stints. If their starters do well enough and the offense is recharged this year, they’ll be looking for pen pickups by the trade deadline, hopefully not Dominguez and Soto again.
I always liked Dominguez.